Understanding Descriptive Research and Survey Methods- An Overview of Self-Report Measures and Their Applications

Understanding Descriptive Research and Survey Methods- An Overview of Self-Report Measures and Their Applications

Many individuals globally are suffering from depression. The symptoms of depression include weight changes, appetite loss, anhedonia, sleeping issues, suicidal ideation, and feelings of worthlessness (Shorey et al., 2021). My hypothesis is that “combining exercise with antidepressants can greatly minimize depressive symptoms as opposed to using antidepressants alone.” Data to be used in this study will be collected from college students.

The data collection survey will be structured interviews. Structured interviews involve the interviewer asking planned questions created in advance (). All participants in the study will be asked similar questions. Structured interviews will allow the investigator to evaluate the participants’ responses in a fair and objective manner. This will allow the investigator to ask the participants about their depressive symptoms and their treatment interventions. Structured interviews will generate objective data (Privitera, 2016). This allows for a better comparison of responses from the participants since the parameters of the interview are similar for all participants. Structured interviews, however, have limitations. They are difficult to develop, and the participants’ responses to the interview questions are limited (Privitera, 2016). This makes it hard for the participants to give their responses fully.

The best strategy for recruiting participants in this structured interview is to inform them of the role of the study, the benefits of the study, study objectives, and research methods. This will involve telling the participants that they can walk out of the study anytime. I believe that allowing the participants to give informed consent will improve their participation in the study. In addition, the participants will be informed of the strategies to ensure their confidentiality. They will thus be more open to giving their responses since they will be kept private and confidential.

References

Privitera, G. J. (2016). Research methods for the behavioral sciences. Sage Publications.

Shorey, S., Ng, E. D., & Wong, C. H. (2021). Global prevalence of depression and elevated depressive symptoms among adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/

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Assignment: Surveys and Response Rates

As you read in Chapter 1, descriptive research is designed to assess and answer questions about the current state of affairs. It is called descriptive research because no variables are manipulated (as found in an experimental research design). Rather, the goal of descriptive research is to provide a snapshot of groups of people’s thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors at a given time. One common type of descriptive research is survey research. A survey is a self-report measure that can be administered through an interview or a written questionnaire.

Understanding Descriptive Research and Survey Methods- An Overview of Self-Report Measures and Their Applications

Interviews are surveys in which researchers read questions to participants in person or by telephone. The questions are either structured or unstructured. When using a structured interview technique, the researcher predetermines the questions to ask participants and records their responses. An example of a structured interview technique is a phone call during the evening at home requesting a “few minutes of your time” to ask your opinions about candidates in an upcoming political election. In an unstructured interview, the researcher asks the respondents to talk freely about a particular topic and records their answers. An example of an unstructured interview technique is a focus group setting, wherein a number of people meet at the same time to share their thoughts and opinions about a particular topic, such as their emotional reactions to viewing advertising campaigns.

Questionnaires are different from interviews because participants complete these assessments on their own, and usually without supervision. The other difference is that participants complete questionnaires in a fixed-format. This means participants answer questions in the exact same order and select their answers from various response choices provided (e.g., multiple choice or true/false) rather than freely reporting what comes to mind. An example of a questionnaire is a poll located in a magazine questioning you about your present satisfaction in your romantic relationship.
Consider the last time you were asked to complete a survey either by interview or questionnaire. Did you participate? Why, or why not? Though survey methods are a good way to collect a lot of data quickly, participants are not always eager to take the time and effort required to complete them. For this Assignment, you select a particular survey method to collect data on a study idea. You analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the method and consider strategies for increasing participant response rates.